MIH
Sportsystem Foundation
The Sportsystem Foundation is dedicated to promoting and enhancing the value of the local industrial district, renowned for its production of footwear and sports equipment. The Foundation supports the historical memory of the district through technical training programs, collaborative projects, and an economic observatory.
It manages the Sportsystem Foundation Museum, which was recently renovated in December 2024 as part of a digital transformation project. The museum features a permanent exhibition that narrates two centuries of the local sports industry’s history, offering interactive and multimedia experiences available in seven languages—making it accessible to an international audience.
The Foundation also oversees a historical archive, an invaluable resource for preserving and promoting the history of the district’s footwear and sports industry. The museum holds and preserves over 2,800 historical objects, approximately 1,400 patents, more than 4,000 company and competitor catalogs, and a specialized library with over 3,000 historical magazines, specialist books, and a thesis archive.
Project Design
Digitization process management system
Archive digitization
Development of software platforms for cataloguing
Establishment of a digital digitization laboratory
OPAC development
Creation of a Digital Library
Digital archival consulting
Algorithms and AI for cultural heritage
Montebelluna, known as the world capital of sports footwear, boasts a rich history dating back to the 16th century. The district is renowned for its production of ski boots and sports shoes, contributing significantly to the local economy as well as to the region’s historical, cultural, and economic heritage.
The Sportsystem Foundation preserves an extensive archive that includes approximately 2,200 pairs of footwear, 570 tools used in shoemaking, photographs, patents, catalogs, academic theses, and a comprehensive specialized library.
The Foundation has launched an ambitious project to digitize its archival and museum heritage. This initiative was made possible through funding from the Italian Ministry of Culture and the European Union, under the TOCC program (Ecological Transition of Cultural and Creative Organizations), part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) financed by Next Generation EU.
The Foundation’s digitization project, launched in December 2023, is structured into three main phases.
The first phase, titled “Adoption of Inventory Tools” (completed in February 2024), involved the digital cataloguing of materials. This included migrating existing inventories to a new software platform, xDams, specifically designed for the management of historical and museum archives.
The second phase, “Digitization of the Museum Collection,” took place from February to May 2024. During this period, a 360° photographic lab was set up at the Museum, with the aim of digitizing items from both the product archive and the catalog collection.
The third phase, “Access and Dissemination,” is scheduled for completion by March 2025. It will include the development of an OPAC platform (Open Public Access Catalogue) intended for researchers and companies. At the same time, a repository of multimedia content will be created, accessible both on-site and online through a dedicated section of the Foundation’s website.
This structured approach aims to ensure efficient management and broad dissemination of the Foundation’s cultural heritage, making it increasingly accessible to a wide audience.
The digitization project of the Sportsystem Foundation, carried out in collaboration with Made In Heritage, marks a significant step forward in the enhancement of Montebelluna’s rich cultural and industrial heritage.
By adopting innovative technologies and developing accessible platforms, the project not only preserves the area's industrial history but also brings it to life—making it available to all. It strengthens the dynamic connection between past, present, and future that defines this unique sports footwear district.